Neck Pain and Headaches: Causes and Relief
Neck pain is one of the most common occurrences among US adults. It can lead to a stiff neck and excruciating pain. Often, neck pain induces headaches in the back of the head. In this blog post, we will discuss Neck Pain and Headaches In Back Of Head in depth.
Most of the time, this headache is confused with a normal headache or migraine.
It’s not the same at all and the severity of neck pain can lead to headaches in the back of head.
According to a survey, nearly 30% of American adults have neck pain in a year, and more than 50% of adults have some form of neck pain in their lifetime. A variety of reasons can cause neck and head pain. In many situations, this pain can be brought by pain in other parts of the body or accompanied by other occurrences.
However, some of the most common reasons for neck pain and headaches are-
Arthritis
Poor Position
Herniated Disks
Occipital neuralgia
Muscle Strain
Nerve Compression
Arthritis
Arthritis is a type of condition where the joint becomes irritable and gets enlarged. The most common symptom of arthritis is stiffness in joints and muscles. Aside from these, there can be swellings, and the patient can’t move their joints smoothly. Arthritis mainly happens because of old age, and over time the condition gets worse.
There are two common types of arthritis named Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis can be seen more regularly in patients. In this case, the cartilage of the joints gets torn, and because of that, the bones grind against each other.
On the other hand, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the edges of the joint capsule get attacked by the body’s immune system. The bone and cartilage get damaged in the process.
Inflammation and swelling in the neck region induce arthritis headaches. They are frequently associated with neck pain and headaches in the back of the head. Severe discomfort gets triggered if a patient moves.
Herniated Disks
A herniated disc refers to the type of condition where the cushion between your bones, also known as vertebrae, gets deteriorated. It can happen in any part of your spine. If someone has herniated discs, then he/she will feel severe back pain, neck pain, and headache because of it.
Herniated disks can pinch a nerve which leads to chronic pain. Often, people with this condition do not show any symptoms. But some of the major symptoms are:
Pain in arm or leg
Numbness
Tingling Sensation
Weakness
You’ll feel pain in the neck and headaches in the back of the head if herniated disks develop in the neck. You will also feel pain in your shoulder and arms. The joints become weakened, and a tingling sensation can be felt in the body.
If you feel any above-mentioned symptoms, consult with a doctor quickly as herniated discs can be diagnosed only after checking properly.
Occipital Neuralgia
Injury or any damage in the occipital nerve leads to occipital neuralgia. Injuries in the nerve area can damage the nerve and lead to this condition. Also, muscular problems such as stiff muscle can result in occipital neuralgia. It is a very specific type of headache.
Occipital neuralgia is different from other types of headaches. Severe upper neck pain and headaches happen because of occipital neuralgia. Throbbing pain can be felt in the scalp, where occipital nerves come together.
The diagnosis of occipital neuralgia is difficult as it can often be confused with other types of headaches like migraine or cluster headache. The doctor diagnoses this headache pressing the occipital nerves and sees if there is any pain.
The pain of the occipital neuralgia is intense, but the patient can get some comfort by taking medicine or home remedies. Taking physical therapy or pain management treatment can help. Also, a head massage or warm compressement in the neck can be taken for getting some temporary comfort. These solutions will help the patient to deal with the pain.
Muscle Strain
When a muscle gets overextended and ripped, then it leads to muscle strain. Fatigue, injury, or sudden imbalance can cause muscle strain. Muscle strain can occur in any part of the human body. But most specifically, it can happen in the neck and lower back area.
Intense pain can be felt if a muscle gets strained.
Some of the main causes of a muscle strain are –
Lack of flexibility
Not warming up before physical activities
Poor muscle joint
Injury
If the muscle strain is not acute, then it can be healed after taking first aid or medications. However, if the pain does go away even after one week, then the patient needs to go to the doctor. The doctor will diagnose it and see if any muscle got teared up in the process.
The doctor can evaluate the degree of the injuries after taking a physical examination and imaging procedures like X-rays and MRI scans. Anti-inflammatory medicines and pain relievers may be used to alleviate discomfort and swelling.